Church Cottage | A romantic 17th century country cottage for couples in County Durham

This sleepy romantic cottage by the babbling River Tees is a sweet spot for a romantic break in County Durham. You’ll find this little luxury getaway on the gateway to Teesdale near Barnard Castle, one of the most picturesque parts of Northern England, with its waterfalls, castles, cycle routes and rolling hills leading on to the Pennines.

The village of Gainford dates back to Saxon times, not far from the atmospheric 12 th century ruins of the medieval Barnard Castle. It’s an excellent destination for pottering, with evening strolls beside the river, and countryside all around you. It’s also a great base for visits to the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales, with their peaks and waterfalls, making this an excellent retreat for anyone on a quest for fresh air.

Step inside Church Cottage, originally built in the early 1600s and aptly named as it sits by the village church, and you’ll find a cosy entrance hall leading through double doors into a tasteful and spacious lounge, with two comfy sofas for relaxing evenings by the fireplace. There’s free wifi, so you can keep in touch, as well as a smart HD TV.

We particularly like the cosy cottage kitchen, with its lovely light and wood-beamed ceiling. Look out here for the homemade treat left here for your arrival and a botte of fizz! In this space, you’ll find everything you might need for catering while you’re away, and there are glazed double doors leading into the walled cottage garden, making it a perfect breakfast spot. This little country nook is a natural sun trap, with two patios, one with a rattan sofa area and other with mosaic dining table and chairs. Relax and enjoy, with a meadow on one side and the church on the other.

There’s space for coats and boots downstairs, along with a toilet, while upstairs you’ll find two spacious bedrooms complete with Egyptian cotton linen. There’s a family bathroom up here too, complete with shower, bath and countryside views.

Parking is right outside the door and there are many sights that you might want to hop to while you’re here.

There are cycle and walking routes from the doorstep. Beyond this, the cottage owners recommend you explore Barnard Castle. Then, there’s a pretty epic waterfall walk at High Force waterfall in Teesdale. Or, for fans of art and history, the Bowes Museum in Teesdale looks like a sight to behold, inside and out.

Fans of fine dining will find the two Michelin stared, Raby Hunt Restaurant, just 4 miles away as well as an abundance of excellent village pubs and farm shops. It’s not even out of the question to hop down to fish and chips at the seaside, with the coast just an hour away.

This property is no longer available but please click on the link below for some very similar romantic cottages in Barnard Castle.